The annual meetings of
the Dams
and Development Forum were a platform for global multistakeholder
dialogue on dams-related issues, including outstanding controversial issues
related to dams and development and the exchange of experiences and lessons
learnt on operationalising and implementing WCD core values and strategic
priorities. The participants represented a wide range of key groups at national,
regional and international levels that are involved dams and development
issues. These included: governments, affected peoples' and indigenous peoples'
groups, industry, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, organizations
working on options, professional associations and research organizations. All together, during DDP, five meetings took place in in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Issue-based Workshops
The
issues-based workshops provided an international multistakeholder
audience for discussing specific topics recommended by the DD Forum members.
They aimed at producing recommendations and identifying issues for further discussion
at the national and regional level seeking to influence policies and
procedures to improve decision-making on dams and their alternatives.
Emphasis was made on the identification, clarification of key attributes
and institutionalization of the WCD strategic priorities with the aim of bridging
the gap between aspirations and reality in the field of dam planning and management.
Five issues-based workshops were convened during the DDP implementation on options assessment,
financing dams and sustainable development, addressing existing dams,
ensuring compliance and gaining public acceptance.
Side Events
Whenever possible, DDP took opportunity of carry the multistakeholder dialogue into the international
arena through organizing side-events at relevant international conferences. During Phase 1, two
side events were convened by DDP: a session on Dams and Development: Promoting
dialogue for improved decision-making” at the Third World Water Forum,
Kyoto, Japan, on March 20, 2003 and a session on “Is the WCD a suitable
tool for assessing the sustainability of hydropower?”, at the International
Conference on Renewable Energies Bonn 2004, June 2 2004, Bonn, Germany.During Phase 2, another two side-events took place at the African Ministerial Conference on Hydropower and Sustainable Development in South Africa, March 2006 and the Fourth World Water Forum, Mexico, March 2006.
